Rep. Crockett to Acosta: Epstein Didn't Need a Deal, He Needed Prison - CNN The Lead

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On CNN, Rep. Jasmine Crockett confronted former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta — the man who gave Jeffrey Epstein his infamous sweetheart deal.

Acosta defended himself by calling the case “too weak” to fully prosecute. Crockett, a trial lawyer who has handled sex crime cases, dismantled that excuse. She reminded him that survivors’ fear doesn’t erase their credibility, that the one-witness rule exists to secure justice, and that prosecutors had more than enough evidence to convict.

Crockett pressed him on why victims weren’t consulted, why evidence wasn’t pursued, and why he still calls the deal “good.” Her conclusion was clear: Epstein walked free because Acosta failed survivors, and justice was denied.

Justice isn’t about protecting predators — it’s about standing up for the vulnerable. - Aired on 09/19/2025.